Fender Custom Shop Jason Smith Masterbuilt 60 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster – USA 2019

This is a really interesting and beautiful 1960 reissue relic Strat made by master builder Jason Smith out of the Fender Custom Shop in California. The subtle and unique dark translucent red finish show off what is most unique about this instrument: The stunning two-piece okouma body.  

Okouma is a wood native to Africa. It is lightweight and visually similar to ash, with tonal characteristics similar to mahogany. This gives this Strat a very comfortable light and lively feel. Combine the tonal characteristics of the okouma body and the rosewood ‘slab’ fingerboard and you have a guitar with a gorgeous mellow tone with plenty of acoustic resonance.  

This guitar presents as one of authentic vintage feel. Master builder Jason Smith is renowned for his attention to detail. This Journeyman Relic treatment is tasteful and serves to give the guitar an air of vintage authenticity. The nitro has sunk subtly into the okouma body which really makes the grain pop. The satin nitro finish on the neck with rolled fretboard edges give the feel of an old neck without any extra work done to make it look overly worn. This guitar is made to be played. Like many Jason Smith master built guitars, it is built with the assumption you’ll wear the neck in yourself.  

The neck is a comfortable, C profile that is slim all the way up the neck. The 7.25” fretboard radius is comfortable and bends without fretting out. This Strat ticks all the boxes. Its chimey, its bell like, its clear. But add to that a bit of mid range throatiness, warmth and lively acoustic properties thanks to the ebony slab fretboard and okouma body. We know that if a guitar sounds great without being plugged in its typically going to be a great instrument. This Strat is no exception.

Comes in its original hardshell case with all case candy and COA.

Features:

Scale length: 25.5” 

Fretboard Radius: 7.25” 

Action at 1st fret: 0.4mm 

Action at 12th fret: 2mm 

Neck depth at 1st fret: 21.6mm 

Neck depth at 12th fret: 22.5mm 

Nut Width: 42mm 

12 fret width: 51.2mm 

Neck material: Rift sawn maple with ebony fretboard 21 frets 

Fretboard inlays: Micarta white Dot 

Body: Okoume 

Body size at lower bout: 32cm 

Front Pickup: Hand wound Fat 60s Strat 6.2k 

Middle Pickup: Hand wound 60s Strat 6.4k 

Bridge Pickup: Hand wound Fat 60s Strat 6.3k 

Tuners: Fender 

Pickguard: 3 ply, 11 hole, mint green aged 

Bridge: Fender tremolo 

Electronics: Standard 

Hardware: Nickel/chrome 

Case: OHSC